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Ho Chi Minh City ranked second nationwide in 2012 and 2013 in the protection of child's rights while Hanoi slipped two spots to eighth position last year, according to new rankings from the Ministry of Labor Invalids and Social Affairs.

The rankings, released June 17, evaluated Vietnam's 63 cities and provinces based on five criteria: official attention paid to childhood education, healthcare and protection; guarantees on child participation in public affairs and childhood development.

The rankings were based on research conducted last year by the ministry’s Children Healthcare and Protection Department and the Center For Sustainable Development Policy Studies at the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences.

Long An Province topped the list while northern and central mountainous provinces like Lao Cai, Dien Bien, Son La, Dak Nong filled out the bottom.

The central city of Da Nang climbed up from rank nine to five during the years, Hai Phong from 11 to 9 and Can Tho from 38 to 37.

Radio Voice of Vietnam cited vice minister Doan Mau Diep as saying that childcare ranking must be weighed against other municipal/provincial indexes such as their competitiveness or economic growth to gain a clearer views of how cities and provinces address the needs of their children.

The rankings were designed to gauge perspectives from international organizations as well.